Rasheedat Ajibade is taking her influence beyond the football pitch, earning a place in an international initiative that brings together some of the game’s leading names to address social challenges and create opportunities in their communities.
The Super Falcons captain has been selected among 13 footballers for the second edition of FIFA’s Player Impact Programme, which supports players in developing initiatives that use their influence, personal experiences and resources to drive positive social change.
Her selection places her alongside some of the biggest names in women’s football, including Spain’s Alexia Putellas, Canada’s Jessie Fleming, England’s Michelle Agyemang and Zambia’s Racheal Kundananji.
The group also includes former India international Sunil Chhetri, who becomes the programme’s first male participant following its female-only pilot edition in 2025.
Ajibade joins 13-player global initiative
The second edition of the FIFA Player Impact Programme features 13 participants representing different countries and football backgrounds.
The complete list includes Alexia Putellas (Spain), Casey Phair (Korea Republic), Gabi Nunes (Brazil), Hina Sugita (Japan), Jessie Fleming (Canada), Kenza Dali (France), Maria Sanchez (Mexico), Michelle Agyemang (England), Phallon Tullis-Joyce (USA), Racheal Kundananji (Zambia), Rasheedat Ajibade (Nigeria), Rebekah Stott (New Zealand) and Sunil Chhetri (India).
Through the initiative, FIFA aims to help the players transform their personal experiences and public influence into practical projects addressing issues that matter to them.
Education, mental health and equal access to sport are among the major areas participants hope to address. They receive tailored guidance from FIFA and specialists in sport for social impact as they develop their proposals.
Ajibade’s work in Nigeria adds context to her selection
The Nigerian forward has already been involved in initiatives aimed at creating opportunities for young people, particularly through education and grassroots football.
Through her Rasheedat Ajibade Foundation, she has supported educational scholarships and football development activities.
One of the initiatives is the Rash Tech Scholarship, developed in partnership with Pluralcode Academy to provide free technical skills training to 60 young people across Nigeria.
Her foundation has also supported grassroots coaching development through a programme that sponsors coaches to participate in professional training workshops.
Ajibade’s inclusion in the FIFA initiative therefore provides another platform for her to develop and extend her work beyond her achievements with club and country.
Boston workshop begins nine-month journey
The second edition officially began in June, when 11 of the 13 participants gathered in Boston, Massachusetts, for a three-day Impact Accelerator Workshop.
The sessions included group discussions, practical exercises and expert-led activities designed to help the players understand how their personal experiences and influence could be used to address social challenges.
FIFA Chief Football Officer Jill Ellis also met with the participants and highlighted the responsibility footballers have to create a legacy beyond their performances on the pitch.
“As players and coaches, we spend our careers building a legacy through what we do on the pitch: the big save, the match-winning goal, the last-ditch tackle,” Ellis said.
“But one of the questions we should all ask ourselves is: what legacy are we leaving beyond the game?”
Ellis added that the influence of modern footballers extends beyond the 90 minutes of a match, particularly through social media and other platforms that allow them to connect with supporters and inspire positive change.
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The next stage of the nine-month programme will take place in December, when participants are expected to gather in London, with others joining virtually, to present their projects to fellow members.
The presentations will provide an opportunity for the players to share the initiatives they have developed and explain how they intend to translate their ideas into meaningful action.
